Regulator valve for escape slide

ABSTRACT

A system for controlling with safety the transfer or control of high pressure fluids from a container for use as to an inflatable escape slide. The pressurized container houses valve mechanisms such as a first and second valve mechanism, with the first valve mechanism controlling by actuation the on off flow of high pressure fluids to the second valve mechanism. The second valve mechanism controls the rate of flow by reducing the pressure for delivery to the inflatable escape slide. A safety valve operates in conjunction with the first valve mechanism and upon breaking of the valve mechanisms from the pressurized container to prevent the contents of the pressurized container from rapid escape or uncontrolled release.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a system for controlling the flow ofpressurized fluids and more particularly to valve devices or mechanismsfor use with high pressure gas release vessels or containers on anaircraft emergency escape slide and off-shore emergency escape slides oras valve mechanisms on high pressure vessels to eliminate potentialcatastrophic problems of high pressure gas release.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The inflatable escape slide and the pressure vessel along withits regulating valve system is stored adjacent to an egress door of anaircraft in a deflated condition. When necessary to evacuate thepassengers and the crew members as quickly as possible, the deflatedslide is deployed outwardly from the aircraft. As the slide is extendedoutwardly from the egress door, a lanyard is actuated to permit theescape slide to be pressurized from a pressurized pressure vessel orcontainer and its regulatory valve.

[0003] The pressurized vessel or container and its valve system forsafety reasons, must be constructed such that when inadvertently or bysome accident such vessel is dropped, that the valves may sustainextensive damage without precipitating hazardous discharge of the storedgas. Under ordinary circumstance the rupture of the body of theregulating valves would cause an uncontrolled release of the pressurizedgas or fluid and would cause the pressurized container to becomeself-propelled, thus putting any personnel or equipment close thereto ingreat danger. The escaping gases could propel the container orpressurized vessel at an alarming high velocity. One of the devices usedto prevent these mishaps is a cage that encloses and protects theregulating valves. The cage prevents the separation of the valves fromthe pressurized container upon impact or inadvertent damage. The use ofthe cage adds extra weight to the escape slide system and since this isan aerospace application, the addition of weight is undesirable andshould be avoided. In addition, the cage adds considerable volume to thesystem thus requiring the aircraft manufacturer to allot additionalspace on the aircraft for the auxiliary equipment. Further, the cagerequires additional machining and welding which adds cost to the system.

[0004] The present invention eliminates the need for a cage and designsthe valves with two portions: an upper portion that projects out of thecontainer, a lower portion that is located within the body portion ofthe container that contains the high pressure fluid, and an integralsafety valve that upon rupture of or any breaking of the upper portionsof the valves will prevent the contents of the pressurized containerfrom rapid escape or uncontrolled release. Such valves are lightweightin construction, compact, reliable and maintain a cost advantage overpresent structures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] A system for controlling with safety the transfer of pressurizedfluids through valve mechanisms from a pressurized container at a lowercontrolled pressure to inflate an inflatable escape slide or otherwiseprovide a controlled measured flow. The container is mounted on theescape slide and has control and regulating valves, such as first andsecond valve mechanisms, secured thereto. The container has a neckedportion to receive a nipple portion of the valve housing which containsthe first and second valve mechanisms. The first valve mechanism isoperative when actuated by suitable devices such as a lanyard to directfluids at high pressures to the second valve mechanism whose function isto transfer the high pressure fluids at a lower controlled rate to theinflatable escape slide. A safety valve is operated in conjunction withthe valve mechanisms to insure the delivery of the high pressure fluidsas required by the actuation. The safety valve is located in the nippleportion of the valve housing so that in the event the valve housing,which contains the first valve mechanism and the second valve mechanism,is broken off by accident as by dropping the container, the highpressure fluids are blocked from leaving the container. This actionprevents the uncontrolled release of the pressurized gas or fluid whichwould cause the pressurized container to become self propelled atdangerously high velocities.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of an escape slide deployed fromthe fuselage of an aircraft, illustrating the slide fully deployed witha pressurized container mounted on the underside of the slide;

[0007]FIG. 2 is a fragmentary bottom view of that portion of the escapeslide taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing a pressurized fluid containerlocated on the escape slide;

[0008]FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a prior art container andvalve mechanism with a portion broken away illustrating the container asfalling and prior to impact with a hard surface;

[0009]FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the prior art containerillustrated in FIG. 3 after impact, with the valve mechanism broken offand the container being propelled by the escaping high pressure fluid;

[0010]FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the present container andvalve mechanism with a portion broken away illustrating the container asfalling and prior to impact with a hard surface;

[0011]FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the present inventionillustrating the container and valve mechanism immediately after impactwith a hard surface with the valve mechanism broken off;

[0012]FIG. 7 is a plan view of the valve housing containing the valvemechanisms embodying the invention mounted on a fluid container orbottle;

[0013]FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 7 withparts being broken away;

[0014]FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 7 withparts being broken away;

[0015]FIG. 10 is an enlarged view in perspective of a disc with aportion broken away;

[0016]FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the firstvalve mechanism and safety valve showing the central support memberretracted with the disc in the burst condition showing the top portionof the safety valve and illustrating the high pressure fluid flowingthrough the opening in the disc towards the second valve mechanism wherethe fluid pressure is reduced for delivery to the escape slide;

[0017]FIG. 12 is a side elevational view similar to that in FIG. 8 withportions of the valve mechanism broken away illustrating the breakingaway of the valve housing from the fluid container and the safety valveblocking the flow of high pressure fluid;

[0018]FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of a valvehousing and valve mechanism with safety valve and first valve mechanismin the non-actuated condition;

[0019]FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view of the safety valve and nippleportion of the valve housing taken on line 14-14 of FIG. 13;

[0020]FIG. 15 is a plan view of the valve housing containing the valvemechanism taken on line 15-15 of FIG. 13;

[0021]FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the valve housing and valvemechanism similar to that shown in FIG. 13 but with the first valvemechanism and safety valve in the actuated condition;

[0022]FIG. 17 is a side elevational view similar to that in FIG. 13 withportions of the valve housing and valve mechanisms broken awayillustrating the breaking away of the valve housing from the fluidcontainer with the safety valve blocking the flow of high pressurefluid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numeralsdesignate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 an inflatable evacuation escape slide 1shown in the fully inflated condition extending from a supportingstructure such as an aircraft's fuselage 2. The escape slide 1 is aconventional slide that is deployed through an egress door 3 during aperiod of on ground emergency to provide for the rapid evacuation ofpassengers and crew members.

[0024] The escape slide 1 is releasably fastened to the fuselage 2 atits upper end adjacent the doorway or egress door 3 by a rod or girt bar4, which girt bar is mounted on the fuselage 2 in brackets 4A or bysuitable means fastened to the fuselage 2. A positioning tube may beemployed and located between the escape slide and the fuselage 2 to aidin the proper positioning of the slide 1 during deployment, but since itforms no part of the invention no further description nor depiction isnecessary.

[0025] The inflatable escape slide 1 includes a head end 5A and a toeend 5B. The entire escape slide 1 is fabricated from a fabric or othersuitable material coated with an elastomer. The various inflatable partsare joined together with a suitable adhesive whereby the compositestructure will preclude air flow from the various chambers or tubesduring operation in the inflated state. The escape slide 1 is of amulti-tubular construction having at least a pair of longitudinallyextending tubes or tube members 6A and 6B on the respective sides andsuitable inflatable cross tubes 7. A sheet 8 with a slide surface issuitably fastened to the respective side tubes and cross tubes in amanner old and well known in the art.

[0026] A suitable source of high pressurized gas or fluid such as acontainer or bottle 12 of compressed gas is suitably mounted on theunderside of the escape slide 1, which bottle 12 is connected via avalve housing 10 and suitable conduits to aspirators 9 located on theside portion of tubes 6A and 6B. Additional containers of compressedgas, aspirators and hoses or conduits or any combination of them may beused.

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the valve housing 10 which may be amachined casting is shown as mounted on the high pressure container ormetal bottle 12 for containing gases at pressures up to approximately5,000 pounds per square inch (351.5 kilograms per square centimeter). Agenerally cylindrical fluid passageway or conduit 14 having an axis A-Ais located in the valve housing 10 in communication with an inletpassage, passageway or opening 16 which extends through a nipple 18connected to the bottle or container 12 by a threaded connection 20between the nipple 18 and a necked portion or neck 22 of the bottle orcontainer 12. An O-ring 24 may be positioned between the nipple 18 andneck 22 to provide a fluid tight seal between the bottle 12 and thevalve housing 10. The lower end portion of nipple 18 terminates into anannular surface 11 having an inner tapered or beveled sealing surface orseal 13.

[0028] To seal the bottle 12 against the flow of high pressure gasthrough the inlet opening 16 a cartridge member or release cartridge 28is positioned and secured to valve housing 10 in the fluid passageway orconduit 14 in the closed condition of the cartridge 28 as shown in FIG.8 and to be described. A metallic plate member such as disc member ordisc 30 shown in greater detail in FIGS. 10 and 11 is mounted over thelower end of the cartridge 28. The disc 30 has a cylindrical wall 32 anda circular base 34 with a central portion 36 and a peripheral edge 38with a beveled configuration to conform with a conical surface defininga valve seat surface 40 in the fluid passageway or fluid conduit 14adjacent the inlet passage 16. Preferably the disc 30 is of a soft metalsuch as aluminum (1100-0 alloy) so that when the cartridge 28 is presseddownwardly towards the inlet passage 16 the metal of the disc 30 will becrushed against the valve seat surface 40 providing a fluid tight seal.A recessed shoulder 37 (FIG. 11) is provided between the inletpassageway 16 and the conical valve seat surface 40. A longitudinallyextending cylindrical safety valve 21 is located within the inletpassageway 16 and has an enlarged circumferentially extending upper edgeportion 23 that is seated on the recessed shoulder 37. Safety valve 21has a central bore 25. The lower end portion of safety valve 21 has acircular plug 27 suitably connected thereto. Plug 27 has an annularportion that defines a beveled seating surface 17 which is adapted tofrictional seat on the beveled seating surface 13 of nipple 18 for apurpose to be described. A narrow vent, aperture or bore 29 extendsthrough the plug 25 to communicate the main high pressure reservoir ofcontainer 12 with the central bore 25. The lower end portion ofcylindrical safety valve 21 has a plurality of apertures 31 tocommunicate the reservoir of container 12 with the central bore 25 topermit the high pressure fluid from container 12 to be maintained on thebottom surface of circular base 34. Referring to FIG. 8, the cartridge28 has a generally cylindrical wall 44 with a threaded connection 46with the valve housing 10. Hexagonal flanges 48 may be provided whichare adaptable for gripping by a wrench to rotate the cartridge 28 tomove it towards or away from the inlet passage 16. A disc support isprovided which includes the thrust collar 50 mounted on the lower end ofthe wall 44 and a central support member such as engagement sleeve 52(FIG. 8) which is positioned adjacent the thrust collar 50 and insupporting relationship with the central portion 36 of the disc 30.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 8 the engagement sleeve 52 is held in thecartridge 28 by a latch providing a mechanical advantage which includeslatching balls 54 movable into holes in the engagement sleeve 52 and agroove in a ball retainer sleeve 56 mounted in the wall 44 of thecartridge. The latching balls 54 are moved into the holes in theengagement sleeve by ramps 58 in a trigger pin 60 movable axially of thefluid conduit 14. The trigger pin 60 is part of a release meansincluding a swivel cap 62 mounted for rotation on the wall 44 and heldin position by retainer wires 63. The swivel cap 62 has a bore 64 inwhich the trigger pin 60 is slidable and a release pin 66 movablethrough an intersecting bore into position to block the bore and holdthe trigger pin 60 down in the cocked position as shown in FIG. 8. Asafety pin 68 may be inserted through the swivel cap 62 and the releasepin 66 to prevent the accidental operation of the apparatus. The safetypin 68 may be removed when the apparatus is ready for use.

[0030] An actuator spring 70 may be positioned within the engagementsleeve 52 and in engagement with the trigger pin 60 to urge the triggerpin upwardly (FIG. 8) into engagement with the release pin 66 forproviding sufficient pressure against the release pin 66 to hold it inplace while at the same time limiting the pressure so that an aircraftattendant can remove the release pin manually. Also when the release pin66 is removed, the actuator spring 70 and the action of the latchingballs 54 will raise the trigger pin 60 actuating the latch by allowingthe latching balls 54 to move into the ramps 58 and out of the groove inthe ball retainer sleeve 56 and the holes in the engagement sleeve 52.

[0031] The above described cooperative elements of the cartridge member28 including the disc 30, thrust collar 50, engagement sleeve 52, latchballs 54, ramp 58, trigger pin 60, release pin 66, and swivel cap 62define a first valve mechanism that operates as an on off valve thatreleases the reservoir of high pressure gas upon actuation. This firstvalve mechanism routes the high pressure gas to a second valve mechanismto be described which controls the output pressure of the devicedescribed. The first valve mechanism and the second valve mechanism isreferred to as a valve means or the overall valve mechanism.

[0032] In the operation, when the engagement sleeve 52 is released inthis manner described above, the high pressure of the fluid in thebottle 12 will rupture the unsupported control portion 36 of the disc 30and force the engagement sleeve 52 upwardly to a position such as thatshown in FIG. 11. The gases or fluids from the bottle 12 move in thedirection shown by the arrows in FIG. 11 into a cartridge chamber 72within the walls 44 and then through holes 74 in the wall 44 through anoutlet passage 76. Impact dampers such as O-rings 78 of resilientmaterial (Nitrile rubber) may be mounted in the ball retainer sleeve 56of the cartridge 28 to cushion the impact of the trigger pin 60 andengagement sleeve 52 which are propelled upwardly by the high pressuregases into engagement with the cartridge upon rupture of the disc 30.

[0033] The outlet passage 76 is in communication with an inlet port 80of a generally cylindrical pressure regulator chamber 82 in the valvehousing 10 (FIG. 9). The pressure regulator chamber 82 has an axis B-Bwhich is in cross configuration with the axis A-A of the fluid conduit14 so that at a cross over point 84, the outlet passage 76 of the fluidconduit 14 and the inlet port 80 of the pressure regulator chamber82-are combined in an intersecting passage 86.

[0034] Axially movable within the pressure regulator chamber 82 is aregulator member or piston 88 having a piston rod 90 slidably movable ina cylindrical opening 92 at the right end of the housing as shown inFIG. 9. A spool member 94 is mounted on the piston rod 90 and is movableto the left as shown in FIG. 9 into the cylindrical opening 96 providinga gas discharge orifice 98 between an edge 100 of the cylindricalopening 92 and an edge 102 of the spool member 94. The pressureregulator also includes a spring 104 and a spring adjuster 106 threadedin the pressure regulator chamber 82 for increasing or decreasing thecompression of the spring acting on the piston 88. As shown in FIG. 9, astop means such as spool stop screw 108 may be threaded in the springadjuster 106 during charging of the bottle 12 with high pressure fluidto prevent over stroking the piston 88.

[0035] The piston 88 has an end area 110, the diameter of which isindicated by letter “a” in FIG. 9 which is greater than the end area 112at the left side of the spool member 94, the diameter of which isindicated by letter “b” in FIG. 9. The spool also has a small end area114 at the right side as shown in FIG. 9.

[0036] The second valve mechanism of the valve means referred to earlierincludes the regulator member or piston 88 operative in chamber 82, rod90, spool member 94, edge 102, and spring adjuster 106.

[0037] In operation the high pressure gas is communicated to a highpressure section 116 of the pressure regulator chamber 82 upon openingof the bottle 12 by rupturing the disc 30. This high pressure gas actson the end area 110 of the piston 88 causing the piston and piston rod90 to move to the left as shown in FIG. 9 to a position where the forceof the spring 104 plus the force of the gas against the end area 112 ofthe spool member 94 is equal to the force from the gas pressure againstthe end area 110 of the piston and the pressure of the low pressure gasagainst the end area 114 of the spool. The gas discharge orifice 98 isthen at a position to provide low pressure gas in a low pressure section118 of the pressure regulator chamber 82 which is then communicatedthrough outlet ports such as discharge ports 120 and 122 connected byhoses 124 and 126 to aspirators 9.

[0038] Seals such as O-rings 128 and 130 may be provided in theregulator chamber 82. In operation the high pressure gas from theintersecting passage 86 is at approximately 3,000 pounds per square inch(210.92 kilograms per square centimeter).

[0039] With this apparatus the bottle 12 may be charged with highpressure gas by closing one of the discharge ports 120 or 122 andconnecting the other port to a source of high pressure gas.

[0040] Where there is an accidental dropping of the container or bottle12 and the valve housing 10 is broken off at the neck 22 of thecontainer 12, the safety valve 21 is moved upwardly by the pressure fromthe gas in the reservoir of the container 12 acting on the bottomsurface of plug 27. The plug 27 of the safety valve 21 blocks the flowof pressurized fluid via apertures 31 since the plug 27 moves intoengagement with the lower end portion of the inlet passageway 16. Thebeveled seating surface 17 of plug 27 comes into sealing engagement withthe beveled seating surface 13 of nipple 18.

[0041] Such action blocks the flow path and reduces the discharge ratefrom the pressurized container 12 to prevent any propulsive reaction ofthe container. A small amount of leakage past the safety valve as viavent aperture 29 would allow the reservoir of container 12 to bleed downslowly without generating any propulsive forces. This installation ofthe safety valve 21 on the pressurized container 12 as described aboveallows the valve housing to sustain severe impact loads, withoutbecoming self propelled providing the container 12 is not itselfsignificantly deformed

[0042] A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 13 through17 where the container that houses the pressurized fluid is designated12 a and is identical to the container 12 of the first describedembodiment.

[0043] A valve housing 140, which may be a machined casting, is shown asmounted on the high pressure container 12 a. The valve housing 140 has anipple portion 141 that threadedly engages the necked portion 142 ofcontainer 12 a. The nipple portion 141 extends downward beyond thenecked portion into the container 12 a and is referred to as the lowerend portion 144 of valve housing 140. Such lower end portion 144 has astepped bore 145 extending crosswise through the valve housing 140. Oneside of such stepped bore 145 has a bore portion designated 146 and theother side of such stepped bore 145 has a bore portion 147 whosediameter is designated D1. The side wall of the stepped bore 145 at thejuncture of bore portion 146 and bore portion 147 is circumferentiallyrecessed to receive an annular seal 148 having an outside diameter D2that is substantially smaller than diameter D1 for bore portion 147. Theside wall of the stepped bore 145 that receives seal 148 may bearcuately recessed to receive one side of a ball valve 150. Thediametrically opposite one side of such ball valve 150 abuttinglyengages an annular thrust seal 152 that is arcuately contoured on itsone side to frictionally engage such ball valve 150 and allows therotation of a ball valve 150 while maintaining a pressure on ball valve150. Annular thrust seal 152 has a diameter D1, identical to that ofbore portion 147.

[0044] Ball valve 150 is journaled for rotation in the central portionof stepped bore 145. Ball valve 150 has a cylindrical bore 153 thatextends therethrough for communicating with bore portion 146 when suchball valve 150 is rotated ninety (90) degrees from that position shownin FIG. 13 to that position shown in FIG. 16. The upper portion of ballvalve 150 has a hexagonal shaped recess 154 that communicates with thecylindrically shaped bore in such valve 150 for a purpose to bedescribed.

[0045] Valve housing 140 has a central stepped bore that extends fromthe uppermost end portion to the stepped bore 145 in the lower endportion 144. Mounted in such central stepped bore is a first valvemechanism or sleeve 157 with an upper solid cylindrical flange 158 thatis frictionally received by bore or bore portion 159 of the centralstepped bore and a lower annular flange 160 that is frictionallyreceived by bore or bore portion 161 of the central stepped bore. Inaddition sleeve 157 has an annular flange 163 at its middle portionwhich is frictionally received by bore portion 161. The respectiveflanges 158, 160 and 163 have annular seals to inhibit fluid leakage asis well known in the art. Immediately above the upper cylindricalflanges 158, the first valve mechanism or sleeve 157 has a cylindricallyshaped shaft or rod 166 which receives an annular cap 167, which cap 167is threadedly secured to the threaded upper end portion 168 of thecentral stepped bore. The lower portion of annular cap 167 has anannular recess to receive a thrust bearing 170. The annular cap 167 issuitably threaded onto the valve housing 140 to bear upon thrust bearing170, which in turn frictionally bears onto upper flange 158 of sleeve157 to permit selective rotation but maintains the vertical altitude andposition (as viewed in FIG. 13). The lowermost end portion 172 of sleeve157 is a hexagonal shape and is securely received by the hexagonallyshaped recess 154 in top portion of ball valve 150. Rotation of sleeve157 controls the ball valve 150 and controls the precise alignment ofthe cylindrical bore 153 in ball valve 150 with the bore or bore portion146 and with the pressurized reservoir of the container 12 a. Sleeve 157is hollow from the upper cylindrical flange 158 to the hexagonal shapedend portion 172 (FIG. 14) that defines a central bore 174. A pluralityof circumferentially and vertical spaced apertures 173 in the sleeve 157adjacent to the upper cylindrical flange 158 communicate the centralbore 174 with a pressure chamber 175, which in turn communicate with abore or a pressure regulator chamber 82′. Such regulator chamber 82′ isidentical to the previously described regulator chamber 82 described inthe first embodiment and receives the identical regulator member orsecond valve mechanism as described in the first embodiment and operatesin the same manner.

[0046] The shaft 166 terminates in a reduced shaft or shaft portion 177and journals for rotation therewith a circular flange member 179. Theshaft portion 177 is centrally threaded to receive a bolt 180 whichfirmly secures the flange member 179 onto the shaft 177 with the aid ofa washer 181. Circular flange member 179 has a circumferentiallyextending groove as at 182 along a portion of its periphery to receiveand guide a lanyard 184 (FIG. 15) whose one end portion is secured to apin 185 which in turn is frictionally held in a groove 186 (FIG. 15) onthe flange 179. Such lanyard and pin 185 are subjected to beingdisengaged from the circular flange member 179 upon pulling on thelanyard as depicted by the dotted lines in FIG. 15.

[0047] The top portion of the valve housing 140 has an arcuate guidemember 188 along a portion of the flange member 179 to insure theretention of the pin 185 and lanyard 184 within the groove 186 until theflange member was rotated ninety degrees which would rotate the sleeveor first valve mechanism 157 ninety degrees to align the cylindricalbore 153 in ball valve 150 with the high pressure fluids in container 12a via bore or bore portion 146. An abutment or stop member 190 on theflange member 179 is operative to engage the end of arcuate guide member188 to limit the rotation of flange member 179 to ninety degrees.

[0048] In the operation of the described embodiment, the lanyard 184 isrotated ninety degrees which rotates sleeve 157 and ball valve 150 toalign cylindrical bore 153 with bore 146 as shown in FIG. 16 to conductthe high pressure fluids through the central bore 174, through theapertures 173 and into the pressure regulator chamber 82′ for processingto a reduced controlled pressure by the regulator member or second valvemechanism as described in the first embodiment wherein the inflatablemember as the escape slide is inflated by a controlled fluid pressure.

[0049] In the accidental dropping of container 12 a, breakage of thevalve housing 140 would ordinarily result at the neck portion 142 asdepicted by FIG. 17 wherein the first valve mechanism is in thenon-actuated condition such that the cylindrical bore 153 in ball valve150 is not aligned with bore 146 and thus block the flow of highpressure fluids out of bore 161. Such action prevents any propulsivereaction of the container 12 a. To further insure the safe release ofthe high pressure fluid a vent bore 192 is located in the lower nippleportion 141 of valve housing 140 communicating with the bore 161. In thenormal inoperative condition of the valves in the valve housing 140, anadditional vent bore 193 is located in the upper portion of valvehousing 140 communicating bore 161 with an outlet opening 194, suitablycapped by a removable threaded bolt 195. A pressure gauge 197 may besuitably connected to a chamber 198 and vent bore 193.

[0050]FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the prior art problem of where the valvesor valve mechanism which is mounted on the neck of a pressurized fluidcontainer 12 when broken off, as by an accidental dropping of thecontainer, would cause an uncontrolled release of the pressurized gas orfluid and would cause the pressurized container to become propelled atan alarming high velocity without specific direction. FIGS. 5 and 6illustrate the same condition of droppage with the valve mechanismbroken off but because of the improved safety valve 21 as safety ballvalve 150 would block the flow of high pressure fluid and permit theeventual venting of the high pressure fluids at a controlled safe rateand pressure.

[0051] The ball valve 150 in the second embodiment is held firmly andpositively in its non-actuated position at all time by a pressurizedforce F (seat) exerted upon the ball valve 150 as represented by thefollowing formula.

F(seat) =P(reservoir) ×P(atmosphere) divided by the quantity (A1 −A2).

[0052] Where F (seat) is the force exerted upon the ball valve 150 toforce it into its seat.

[0053] P (reservoir) is the pressure of the fluid in the reservoir.

[0054] P (atmosphere) is the atmospheric pressure.

[0055] A 1 is (diameter D1 divided by 2) quantity squared ×Pi (where Piis the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter,approximated at times as 3.1416).

[0056] A 2 is (diameter D2 divided by 2) quantity squared ×Pi (where Piis the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter,approximated at times as 3.1416).

[0057] It is to be noted that without this force, F (seat), the sealwould leak and be ineffective as a seal or safety valve, resulting indamages and injury caused by an uncontrolled release of the highlypressurized fluids from the container as discussed above.

[0058] While certain representative embodiments and details have beenshown and described for the purpose of illustrating the invention, itwill be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications other than those referred to may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a system for controlling the flow ofpressurized fluids to an inflatable member, the system comprising: aninflatable member, a pressurized storage container, said storagecontainer having a necked portion at the uppermost end portion, a valvehousing secured to said container, a moveable member mounted in saidvalve housing operative between an actuated condition and a non-actuatedcondition, said moveable member operative in said non-actuated conditionto block the flow of high pressure fluids from said container, apressure regulator valve mechanism mounted in said valve housing andoperative to direct the flow of fluids at a controlled rate to saidinflatable member, said moveable member operative in said actuatedcondition to communicate said high pressure fluid from said container tosaid regulator valve mechanism for control thereby, actuator meansoperative upon actuation to effect movement of said moveable member fromsaid non-actuated condition to said actuated condition, a safety valvemounted in said housing and moveable between an actuated condition and anon-actuated condition, said safety valve operative in said non-actuatedcondition of said moveable member upon the breaking off of said valvehousing to block the flow of the high pressure fluids from said storagecontainer.
 2. In a system for controlling the flow of pressurized fluidsto an inflatable member as set forth in claim 1 wherein a disc member isseated in contact with said moveable member to block the flow of fluidsfrom said storage container, and said safety valve in said non-actuatedcondition has an opening means that communicates the high pressurefluids from said storage container with said disc and said moveablemember when said moveable member is in the non-actuated condition whichblocks the flow of high pressure fluids to said pressure regulatorvalve.
 3. In a system for controlling the flow of pressurized fluids toan inflatable member as set forth in claim 1 wherein said safety valvein said actuated condition blocks the flow of high pressure fluids. 4.In a system for controlling the flow of pressurized fluids to aninflatable member as set forth in claim 3 wherein said safety valve hasa sleeve portion with a central bore therethrough, said sleeve portionhas a plug mounted on its end portion, a plurality of apertures in saidsleeve portion operative to communicate the high pressure fluids in saidcontainer with said central bore in said sleeve portion, and said plugoperative to block the flow of high pressure fluids from said containerto said central bore when said safety valve is in said actuatedcondition.
 5. In a system for controlling the flow of pressurized fluidsto an inflatable member as set forth in claim 1 wherein said moveablemember in said actuated condition is operative to deliver high pressurefluids to said pressure regulator mechanism via opening means, and saidopening means being located above said necked portion of said storagecontainer.
 6. In a system for controlling the flow of pressurized fluidsto an inflatable member as set forth in claim 5 wherein said moveablemember is located above said necked portion of said storage container,and said safety valve has a portion located below said necked portionthat blocks the flow of high pressure fluid out from said storagecontainer upon breaking of said valve housing above said necked portion.7. In a system for controlling the flow of pressurized fluids to aninflatable member, the system comprising: an inflatable member, astorage container confining a pressurized fluid, said container having anecked portion at its uppermost end, a valve housing secured to saidnecked portion of said container, a valve means in said valve housing,said valve means having a first valve mechanism and a second valvemechanism, said first valve mechanism moveable between an on and offposition, said first valve mechanism operative in said on position forcommunicating high pressurized fluids to said second valve mechanism,said second valve mechanism being operative to control the flow ofpressurized fluids to said inflatable member at a predeterminedpressure, and a safety valve located in said necked portion to block theflow of high pressure fluids from said container when said first andsecond valve mechanisms are broken off said necked portion of saidcontainer.
 8. In a system for controlling the flow of pressurized fluidsto an inflatable member as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first valvemechanism is moveable between an actuated condition and a non-actuatedcondition, and said safety valve is moveable with said first valvemechanism in said actuated condition to communicate said high pressurefluids from said container to said second valve mechanism for controlthereby.
 9. In a system for controlling the flow of pressurized fluidsto an inflatable member as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first valvemechanism has a hollow sleeve whose one end portion extends downwardlybelow said necked portion into said storage container, said safety valveis secured to said one end portion for rotation thereby between a firstposition to deliver high pressure fluids to said hollow sleeve and asecond position to block delivery of high pressure fluids, and saidhollow sleeve having another end portion with apertures that communicatewith said second valve mechanism for delivery of fluids thereto.
 10. Ina system for controlling the flow of pressurized fluids to an inflatablemember as set forth in claim 9 wherein said safety valve is a rotatableball valve with a bore that extends therethrough, and said bore of saidball valve communicates with said hollow sleeve at all times.
 11. In asystem for controlling the flow of pressurized fluids to an inflatablemember as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first valve mechanism has avalve seat and a disc seated on said valve seat, a moveable centralsupport biased into seating engagement with said disc, and an actuatormember operative upon actuation to remove the bias on said centralsupport to permit rupture of said disc by said high pressure tocommunicate said high pressure fluids from said container through saidsafety valve.
 12. In a system for controlling the flow of pressurizedfluids to an inflatable member as set forth in claim 11 wherein saidfirst valve mechanism has a non-moveably circumferentially extendingcollar that engages said disc and holds said disc on said valve seat,and said safety valve has an annular collar on its upper end that seatson the outer bottom periphery of said disc.
 13. In a system forcontrolling the flow of pressurized fluids to an inflatable member asset forth in claim 12 wherein said safety valve is an elongated sleevewith said annular collar on its upper end, the lower end of said sleevehas a cylindrical plug, and said valve housing having a beveled valveseat located at the lower end portion of said neck and spaced from saidcylindrical plug for engagement by said plug when said first and secondvalve mechanisms are broken off said necked portion of said container.14. In a system for controlling the flow of pressurized fluids to aninflatable member as set forth in claim 13 wherein said cylindrical plughas a beveled sealing surface adapted to seat on and engage said beveledvalve seat on said valve housing that is located at the lower endportion of said neck when said first and second valve mechanisms arebroken off said necked portion of said container.
 15. In a system forcontrolling the flow of pressurized fluids to an inflatable member asset forth in claim 14 wherein said cylindrical plug has a vent borecommunicating said container with a central bore in said elongatedsleeve of said safety valve to slowly vent the pressurized fluids fromsaid container when said first and second valve mechanisms are brokenoff said necked portion of said container.
 16. In a system forcontrolling the flow of pressurized fluids to an inflatable member, thesystem comprising: an inflatable member, a pressurized fluid containerwith a reservoir, said container having a necked portion at its upperend, a valve housing having a nipple portion extending into and securedto said necked portion, said valve housing having a central borecommunicating with a stepped bore in a lower portion of said valvehousing that is below said necked portion, a valve means located withinsaid valve housing, said valve means having a first valve mechanism anda second valve mechanism, said first valve mechanism moveable from anon-actuated condition to a actuated condition, actuator means operativeto move said first valve mechanism to said actuated condition, a safetyvalve located in said nipple portion of said valve housing and is incooperative engagement with said first valve mechanism, said first valvemechanism having holes for communicating with said second valvemechanism, said second valve mechanism having an outlet means forconnection to said inflatable member, said second valve mechanism beingoperative to control the output pressure to said outlet means, saidsafety valve being responsive to said first valve mechanism being movedfrom said non-actuated condition to said actuated condition to deliverpressurized fluids to said second valve mechanism through said firstvalve mechanism.
 17. In a system in accordance with claim 16 whereinsaid first valve mechanism has a first portion extending outwardly ofsaid necked portion of said container, and said first valve mechanismhas a second portion located within said nipple portion of saidcontainer.
 18. In a system in accordance with claim 17 wherein saidsafety valve is secured to said second portion of said first valvemechanism for movement therewith between said actuated condition andsaid non-actuated condition, and said safety valve operative in saidnon-actuated condition upon the breaking off of said first portion ofsaid first valve mechanism from said container to block the flow ofpressurized fluid from said container.
 19. In a system in accordancewith claim 18 wherein said other portion of said first valve mechanismhas vent passageway means to slowly vent the flow of pressurized fluidsfrom said container at a safe low rate when said valve means in brokenat said necked portion.
 20. In a system in accordance with claim 19wherein said first valve mechanism has a hollow sleeve secured to saidsafety valve, said safety valve is controlled by said hollow sleevebetween its actuated condition and its non-actuated condition, and saidhollow sleeve communicates with said holes.
 21. In a system inaccordance with claim 20 wherein said safety valve is a rotatable ballvalve with a bore that extends therethrough, and said bore of said ballvalve communicates with said hollow sleeve at all times.
 22. In a systemin accordance with claim 21 wherein said bore of said ball valve blocksthe flow of pressurized fluids to said hollow sleeve when said firstvalve mechanism is in said non-actuated condition.
 23. In a system inaccordance with claim 22 wherein said bore of said ball valvecommunicates only with said stepped bore in said actuated condition ofsaid first valve mechanism.
 24. In a system in accordance with claim 23wherein said ball valve in said non-actuated condition of said firstvalve mechanism is journaled in said stepped bore with the axis of saidbore of said ball valve being ninety degrees from the axis of saidstepped bore, and a seal located in one end of said stepped boresubjects said seal to the pressurized fluid in said container to holdsaid ball valve stationary.
 25. In a system in accordance with claim 24wherein said ball valve has a polygonal recess that receives a polygonalportion of said hollow sleeve to provide an interconnectiontherebetween.
 26. In a system in accordance with claim 16 wherein saidfirst valve mechanism has a sleeve member jounaled for movement in saidvalve housing, said sleeve has a central bore that extends from theupper portion of said sleeve to the end portion thereof, said upperportion of said sleeve communicates via said holes to said second valvemechanism, said sleeve having a polygonal end portion, said valvehousing having a stepped bore at its end portion located within saidportion container, said safety valve is a rotatable ball valve with abore extending therethrough, said stepped bore having a first and secondbore end portions communicating with said reservoir, said stepped borehaving a central bore portion that receives a circular seal, said sealengages said ball valve, the upper portion of said ball valve having apolygonal recess that receives said polygonal end portion of saidsleeve, said recess interconnects said bore of said ball valve with saidholes in said sleeve, said first bore end portion and said centralportion of said stepped bore being smaller in diameter than said secondbore end portion, and a circular seal journaled in said second bore endportion and frictionally engaging said ball valve to hold said ballvalve stationary.
 27. In a system in accordance with claim 26 whereinthe axis of said stepped bore intersects the axis of said bore of saidball valve and is located ninety degrees relative thereto when saidfirst valve mechanism is in a non-actuated condition.
 28. In a systemfor controlling the flow of pressurized fluids, the system comprising: astorage fluid container confining a high pressurized fluid, saidcontainer having a necked portion at its upper end, a valve housinghaving a nipple portion extending into said necked portion, said valvehousing having a fluid conduit in communication with an inlet passageconnected to said fluid container, said inlet passage extends throughsaid nipple portion, a valve means secured to said valve housing, saidvalve means having a first valve mechanism and a second valve mechanism,said first valve mechanism moveable from a non-actuated condition to anactuated condition, actuator means operative to move said first valvemechanism to said actuated condition, a safety valve located in saidnipple portion of said valve housing and is in cooperative engagementwith said first valve mechanism, said first valve mechanism having holesfor communicating with said second valve mechanism, said second valvemechanism having an outlet conduit, said second valve mechanism beingoperative to control the output pressure to said outlet conduit, saidsafety valve being responsive to said first valve mechanism being movedfrom said non-actuated condition to said actuated condition to deliverpressurized fluid to said second valve mechanism through said firstvalve mechanism.
 29. In a system for controlling the flow of pressurizedfluids, the system comprising: a pressurized storage container for thestorage of high pressure fluids, a valve housing secured to saidcontainer, a moveable valve member mounted in said housing and operativebetween an actuated condition and a non-actuated condition, saidmoveable valve member operative in said non-actuated condition to blockthe flow of high pressure fluids from said container, said valve housinghaving an opening, said moveable member operative in said actuatedcondition to communicate said high pressure fluids from said containerto said opening, actuator means operative upon actuation to effectmovement of said moveable valve member from said non-actuated conditionto said actuated condition, a safety valve mounted in said housing andmoveable between an actuated condition and a non-actuated condition,said safety valve operative in said non-actuated condition of saidmoveable valve member upon the breaking off of said valve housing toblock the flow of the high pressure fluids from said storage container.30. In a system for controlling the flow of pressurized fluids as setforth in claim 29 wherein a disk member is seated in contact with saidmoveable valve member to block the flow of fluids from said storagecontainer, and said safety valve in said non-actuated condition has anopening means that communicates the high pressure fluids from saidstorage container with said disc and said moveable member when saidmoveable member is in said non-actuated condition.
 31. In a system forcontrolling the flow of pressurized fluids as set forth in claim 29wherein said safety valve in said actuated condition blocks the flow ofhigh pressure fluids from said container.
 32. In a system forcontrolling the flow of pressurized fluids as set forth in claim 31wherein said safety valve has a sleeve portion with a central boretherethrough, said sleeve portion has a plug mounted on its end portion,a plurality of apertures in said sleeve portion operative to communicatethe high pressure fluids in said container with said central bore insaid sleeve portion, and said plug operative to block the flow of highpressure fluids from said container to said central bore when saidsafety valve is in said actuated condition.
 33. In a system forcontrolling the flow of pressurized fluids as set forth in claim 32wherein said container has a necked portion at the uppermost endportion, said opening being located above said necked portion, and saidsafety valve has a portion located below said necked portion that blocksthe flow of high pressure fluids out from said storage container uponbreaking of said valve housing above said necked portion.
 34. In asystem for controlling the flow of pressurized fluids as set forth inclaim 29 wherein said safety valve is actuated simultaneously with themovement of said moveable valve member from said non-actuated conditionto said actuated condition.
 35. In a system for controlling the flow ofpressurized fluids as set forth in claim 34 wherein said safety valve isa rotatable ball valve secured to said moveable valve member.